AAT Client and Animal Safety 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A therapy dog shows whale eye (visible sclera) and a stiff body while a client reaches toward it. What is the MOST appropriate immediate action?
- Encourage the client to pet the dog gently
- Redirect the client and create distance between them and the dog (Correct answer)
- Allow the dog to sniff the client's hand first
- Ask the client to make eye contact with the dog to establish trust
Correct answer: Redirect the client and create distance between them and the dog
Whale eye and stiff body are stress signals indicating the animal may bite; immediate separation prevents injury.
Question 2: Which zoonotic disease is of greatest concern when a therapy animal has an open wound that comes into contact with an immunocompromised client?
- Ringworm
- Capnocytophaga canimorsus infection (Correct answer)
- Giardia
- Toxoplasmosis
Correct answer: Capnocytophaga canimorsus infection
Capnocytophaga canimorsus, found in dog saliva and wounds, poses severe sepsis risk for immunocompromised individuals.
Question 3: Before an AAT session in a hospital, a handler discovers the therapy animal has loose stools that morning. The BEST course of action is:
- Proceed but limit the animal's time in patient rooms
- Cancel the visit and consult a veterinarian (Correct answer)
- Give the animal an anti-diarrheal medication and proceed
- Proceed only to common areas, avoiding patient contact
Correct answer: Cancel the visit and consult a veterinarian
Gastrointestinal symptoms may indicate infectious illness, and visiting with a potentially ill animal risks spreading pathogens to vulnerable clients.
Question 4: A client with dementia suddenly grabs a therapy cat tightly around the neck. The handler should FIRST:
- Verbally reprimand the client loudly to stop
- Calmly redirect the client's hands while gently removing the cat (Correct answer)
- Allow the cat to free itself naturally
- End the entire session immediately for the day
Correct answer: Calmly redirect the client's hands while gently removing the cat
A calm, gentle physical redirect protects both the animal and the client without causing additional distress.
Question 5: What minimum health documentation should a therapy animal have updated annually according to standard AAT guidelines?
- Microchip registration only
- Rabies vaccination and a veterinary health certificate (Correct answer)
- Heartworm test only
- Flea and tick prevention record
Correct answer: Rabies vaccination and a veterinary health certificate
Annual rabies vaccination and a current veterinary health certificate are the baseline documentation requirements for therapy animal visits.
Question 6: During a session, a child client begins pulling a therapy dog's tail. The handler should:
- Let the dog react to teach the child a natural consequence
- Immediately intervene, redirect the child, and use it as a teaching moment about gentle touch (Correct answer)
- Remove the child from the program permanently
- Distract the dog with a treat to prevent any reaction
Correct answer: Immediately intervene, redirect the child, and use it as a teaching moment about gentle touch
Immediate intervention protects the animal, prevents a bite, and provides a therapeutic teaching opportunity about safe animal interaction.
Question 7: Which of the following environments requires the STRICTEST animal cleanliness protocols before an AAT visit?
- Elementary school classroom
- Oncology ward (Correct answer)
- Corporate office wellness event
- Outpatient counseling center
Correct answer: Oncology ward
Oncology patients are severely immunocompromised, requiring the strictest hygiene protocols including recent bathing and nail trimming of the therapy animal.
AAT Client and Animal Safety 2
A therapy dog shows whale eye (visible sclera) and a stiff body while a client reaches toward it.
What is the MOST appropriate immediate action?